Salem Leader - Featured Local News

Home
More Featured News

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is kicking off its annual Tie One On for Safety campaign, an effort dedicated to recognizing the importance of designated drivers. The holiday season is about to begin, spanning from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. MADD encourages all drivers to stay safe, sober, and vigilant to ensure roadway safety and help prevent impaired driving incidents.

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is among the most dangerous on the nation’s roadways due to increased travel and holiday gatherings. It is crucial to plan ahead and utilize designated drivers, rideshare services, and other safe travel options to prevent impaired driving tragedies.

“Impaired driving affects everyone in our community,” said Brent Miller. “In Washington County, our priority is to keep our families, friends, and neighbors safe on the roads. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to prevent impaired driving and protect lives this holiday season.”

To show your support, tie a red ribbon on your vehicle or post a digital ribbon across social media platforms. The red ribbon symbolizes a commitment to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Together, we can ensure everyone arrives home safely this holiday season.

For more information on the Tie One On for Safety campaign and how you can participate, please visit: https://madd.org/drunk-driving/tie-one-on-for-safety/.

Write a comment

From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of the ever-evolving story of democracy in America. As part of a thematic initiative exploring civics and democracy, Indiana Humanities is sponsoring a tour of the Smithsonian's Voices and Votes: Democracy in Americaexhibition.

In 2026, six Indiana communities will host the exhibit for six weeks each and receive extensive training, funding, and other resources from the expert staffs of the Smithsonian and Indiana Humanities. Each of the hosts will also curate a unique section of the exhibit that explores their community story of civic engagement.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. The Museum on Main Street program works with rural communities to design and host high-quality exhibits and create dynamic public programs across the United States. Voices and Votes is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

About the Exhibition

When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence, they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans:

Who has the right to vote?
What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?
Whose voices will be heard?
How do you participate as a citizen?
How do we encourage more people to participate in our democracy?

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories. Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision. From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story – the story of democracy in America.

This exhibition covers many themes, including:

The Great Leap

A Vote, A Voice

The Machinery of Democracy

Beyond the Ballot

Creating Citizens

Learn more and apply by January 31, 2025.

Write a comment

One of the favorite annual Christmas traditions is viewing the movie "The Polar Express" at The Depot Railroad Museum. The movie will be presented at The Depot, located at 206 S. College Ave, Salem, on Friday, Dec. 13.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the film will start at 7 p.m. There will be popcorn, sweet treats, Christmas activities, and more for everyone to enjoy before the film starts. Everyone attending is urged to wear their favorite Christmas pajamas!

Admission is FREE although donations are greatly appreciated!

For further information or answers to any questions, please contact Kaylee Seabold at (812) 883-6495.

Write a comment

Two Salem senior care professionals are among the 99 employees from across the state of Indiana who were honored with the American Senior Communities (ASC) Quest for Excellence award for outstanding achievement. This year’s awards banquet and ceremony, now in its 24th year, took place on November 14th, 2024, at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis.

With nearly 11,000 ASC employees statewide, a Quest for Excellence award is a coveted achievement. Through nominations by peers, residents, and families, only one winner from each location is chosen for recognition, spotlighting the best and brightest in their roles.

This year’s Salem locations award winners are: 

Damian Jones, Clinical Education Nurse, Clinical Education Nurse at Meadow View Health & Rehabilitation.

Justine Flynn, Receptionist at Salem Crossing.

The award distinguishes employees who embrace the CARE principles; an aptly named acronym that stands for Compassion, Accountability, Relationships, and Excellence. Honorees are those who consistently make contributions through genuine compassion, strong teamwork, notable accountability, an understanding of the importance of building relationships, and an overarching drive to achieve excellence in their work.

American Senior Communities CEO, Steve Van Camp addressed the honorees, saying, “A Quest for Excellence winner is more than a good employee...more than a great employee. It is a special person who is a role model and an inspiration. It is someone who strives every day to do all they can to improve the health and well-being of residents, to be a trustworthy and dependable teammate, to nurture meaningful relationships, and to be a beacon of kindness and compassion, all in addition to displaying exceptional skills in their role. This describes all of you being honored tonight. Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you for all you do.”

MeadowViewHR DamianJones Quest2024 small Damian Jones

SalemCrossing JustineFlynn Quest2024 small Justine Flynn

3 Comments

By Philip T. Hensley, Public Information Office, Indiana State Police Sellersburg District

A two-year investigation concluded Monday with the arrest of a male and female for their involvement in corrupt business practices and failing to pay taxes while operating businesses in Clarksville.

In February, 2023, Master Trooper Detective Tim Denby began an investigation based on a complaint filed against an individual residing in Clarksville who was allegedly creating Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) in order for individuals not legally allowed to register their vehicles to buy, register, and title vehicles through the state of Indiana. The complainant alleged that 50-year-old Jony Zavala was charging individuals money to set up and provide the vehicle registrations. It was learned through the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office that Zavala had registered 29 LLCs over the last several years for what had appeared to be fake businesses.

As the investigation progressed, Detective Denby began working with investigators with the Indiana Department of Revenue in October, 2023. Investigators learned that Zavala and his wife, 40-year-old Maria Bonilla, were the organizers of at least nine LLCs within Indiana that they were principal members of. It was alleged that through the course of their proprietorship of those businesses, neither Zavala nor Bonilla had filed personal or business tax returns.

Search warrants were served at the residence of Zavala and Bonilla by State Police detectives and investigators with the Department of Revenue in May, 2024. Investigators were learning that business records were not being maintained for any of the nine LLCs that Zavala and Bonilla owned. At the same time, Department of Revenue investigators served Zavala and Bonilla with notices to produce business records for their businesses. Zavala and Bonilla failed to provide those records to the Department of Revenue.

In June, 2024, the Department of Revenue was provided with tax returns filed on behalf of Zavala and Bonilla for the years 2019 through 2023 that were filed after the search warrant was executed in May, 2024. The tax returns were filed for only two of the nine LLCs that Zavala and Bonilla own; the business records for the other seven LLCs remained undocumented. Additionally, it was learned that Zavala and Bonilla did not provide all bank statements when preparing business records and tax returns for the two LLCs they filed for, thus failing to declare all of their income.

On Monday, Zavala and Bonilla were arrested on warrants issued through the Clark County Circuit Court for charges including Racketeering, Theft, and Tax Evasion. They were lodged in the Clark County Jail.

The Indiana State Police continues will continue to investigate complaints involving individuals making money outside the tax and regulatory system by not reporting their tax obligations. The State Police and the Department of Revenue encourage all Indiana residents to register and operate their businesses lawfully.

Arrested and Charges: